Which place is cheaper, Lima or Punta Arenas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Punta Arenas or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Lima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Punta Arenas or Lima?
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
Lima
Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Punta Arenas Prices
Chile PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Arenas $79Lima $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $79, while the average daily cost in Lima is $95. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Punta Arenas and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Arenas $32Lima $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Arenas $64Lima $104
Compare Hotels in Punta Arenas and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Lima? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Punta Arenas Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Arenas $1.80Lima $6.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30
- Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37
- Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Short Taxi Ride$4.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Direct Private Transfer From Lima to Paracas, English Speaking Driver: $269
- Private Transfer From Lima To Huacachina With 2 Stops: $263
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $201
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chávez (LIM) Airport to Lima: $59
- Larco Museum Complete Guided Tour with Transfers (Small Group): $55
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- Lima J Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- Lima Airport Transfers by SUV/Van: $43
- Assistance - Transfer Cusco Airport to Hotel & Viceversa: $40
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- Private Lima Airport Transfer - Minivan 24hrs: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Arenas or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Punta Arenas change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPunta Arenas $36Lima $32
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.59
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Ice cream$3.73
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Coffee$3.15
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Donut$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $32
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $40
- Lima Food Tour - Prepare your Anticuchos and Pisco Sour : $48
- #1 Reviewed Lima Cooking Class: $49
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Peru’s Most Beloved Recipes Cooking Class: $58
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Lima Night: Cooking Experience with locals: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $65
- Vegan Peruvian Food Cooking Class | Ceviche + Pisco Sour: $69
- 4 iconic restaurants of Lima / 3-hour guided food tour: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Arenas $6.44Lima $9.15
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Fort Bulnes Historical Tour: $39
- City Tour: $60
- City Tour Shore Excursion for Cruisers: $60
- Punta Arenas City Tour Shore Excursion: $60
- Cruises Shore Excursions : City tour Cruises Regular: $70
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
- Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $88
- Monte Tarn Trekking Tour with Guide: $129
- Torres Del Paine and Milodon Cave Full Day Tour: $135
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
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Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)$17
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Movie Tickets$2.44
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Tour From Lima (Private Group): $190
- Cycling Tour Miraflores - Barranco - Chorrillos: $30
- Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
- Private Classic City Tour Experience of Lima: $65
- Private Stopover Tour of Lima from the Airport: $150
- Sunset in Huacachina and Tacama: Private Tour from Lima: $220
- #1 Full Day Tour From Paracas and Huacachina Oasis: $59
- 1 Day Tour to Huacachina from Lima (Dunebuggy + Vineyards): $225
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $279
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $149
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $149
- 2 Days 1 Night Paracas Ica Tour from Lima: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Arenas $4.86Lima $5.95
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.33
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$7.71
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Beer$4.30
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Cocktail$3.44
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $19
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $30
- Local Wine Tour : $55
- From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
- Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima : $138
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Arenas and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Lima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lima than you might in Punta Arenas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Arenas Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Arenas or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Punta Arenas and Lima, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Punta Arenas or Lima?
Punta Arenas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Lima experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Lima in the Summer?
Both Lima and Punta Arenas during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
In the summer, Punta Arenas is much colder than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Punta Arenas in January average around 11°C (52°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Punta Arenas. In the summer, Punta Arenas often gets more sunshine than Limain July. Punta Arenas gets 208 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
Punta Arenas usually gets more rain in January than Limain July. Punta Arenas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyPunta Arenas 11°C (52°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta Arenas and Lima. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Punta Arenas is generally much colder than Limain October. Daily temperatures in Punta Arenas average around 7°C (44°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Punta Arenas usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Punta Arenas gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In April, Punta Arenas usually receives more rain than Limain October. Punta Arenas gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberPunta Arenas 7°C (44°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Lima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Punta Arenas as well as Lima. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Punta Arenas in the winter. Punta Arenas is much colder than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Punta Arenas averages around 1°C (35°F) in July, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in January.
In the winter, Punta Arenas often gets less sunshine than Limain January. Punta Arenas gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Punta Arenas usually gets more rain in July than Limain January. Punta Arenas gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPunta Arenas 1°C (35°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Punta Arenas are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Punta Arenas is much colder than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Punta Arenas in October average around 7°C (44°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.
Punta Arenas usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lima during spring. Punta Arenas gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Punta Arenas usually receives more rain than Limain April. Punta Arenas gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilPunta Arenas 7°C (44°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Punta Arenas
| Punta Arenas | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.